Building Facade Study in Lahijan City, Iran - World Academy of ...

Abstract—Buildings are considered as significant part in the
cities, which plays main role in organization and arrangement of city
appearance, which is affects image of that building facades, as an
connective between inner and outer space, have a main role in city
image and they are classified as rich image and poor image by people
evaluation which related to visual architectural and urban elements in
building facades. the buildings in Karimi street , in Lahijan city
where, lies in north of Iran, contain the variety of building's facade
types which, have made a city image in Historical part of Lahijan
city, while reflected the Iranian cities identity. The study attempt to
identify the architectural and urban elements that impression the
image of building facades in historical area, based on public
evaluation. Quantitative method were used and the data was collected
through questionnaire survey, the result presented architectural style,
color, shape, and design evaluated by people as most important factor
which should be understate in future development. in fact, the rich
architectural style with strong design make strong city image as weak
design make poor city image.
I
Keywords—Building’s facade, historical area.
I. INTRODUCTION
T has been revealed that the quality of image extracts from
combination of different factors such as shapes, forms, and
colors of the building [1]. In fact, image of the place reflects
different meanings and values of the components, factors, and
characters that formed out the particular venue. Facades do
play an important role in design of urban and environmental
design. Façade should not be reminded as skin and face of the
building but may carry out other meaning as well. A
conducted investigation defined two functions for façade
namely; use and value of structure [2]. It reveals that beside
common role in buildings façades also represent the value of
building structure as well. Moreover, facades are considered
as a linkage between inside and outside environment [3].
Hayashi [3] notes that façade may determine the scale of the
space and building. Askari [4] mentioned that people
evaluation of building facades is based on visual elements
such as shape, color and architectural style which indicates
that the architectural visual elements influence the image of
building facades.Therefore, the study attempt to imply the
visual elements of building facade which influence the public
evaluation.
Dr. Nangkula Utaberta IAI, was a Senior Lecturer and Profesional
Architect at the National University of Malaysia, UKM Bangi Malaysia
(phone: 60389217035; e-mail: nangkula_arch@yahoo.com).
Afshin Jalali,is was a Master Student the department of architecture,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia (phone:
+60-16-619-1224; e-mail: badieh.hassanpour@gmail.com).
Ar. Mastor Surat was a Senior Fellow and Profesional Architect at the
National University of Malaysia, UKM Bangi Malaysia.
Sr. Dr. Adi Irfan Che Ani, was a Senior Lecturer and Profesional Surveyor
at the National University of Malaysia, UKM Bangi Malaysia.
Dr. Norngainy Mohd. Tawil, was a Senior Lecturer at the National
University of Malaysia, UKM Bangi Malaysia.
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 67 2012
Building Facade Study in Lahijan City, Iran: The
Impact of Facade's Visual Elements on Historical
Image
N. Utaberta, A. Jalali, S. Johar, M. Surat, A. I. Che-Ani
701
II.CITY IMAGE AND BUILDING FACADE
This part begins with description about the image of the city
and its components. The image of the city is mostly related to
the visual quality of the city which is named metal quality of
the city. Facades do play an important role in design of urban
and environmental design. A conducted investigation defined
two functions for façade namely; use and value of structure
[5].
It reveals that beside common role in buildings façades also
represent the value of building structure as well. Moreover,
facades are considered as a linkage between inside and outside
environment [3][4], delineate facades are representative of the
face of the city (city image). Building facade is known as
feature of environment image of city therefore it is very
critical and challenging to use a certain and specific
ornamentation to establish a rich context [6].
Hui [13], through conducting a survey of public evaluation
toward the city image in China, revealed that building façade
do play an important role in urban landscape and image of the
city. He also argued that regarding to enhance the images in
districts, style, color, volume, material of the building
structure, and perceived value about building are challenging
and crucial visual elements. So it is expressed that façade as
important parcel of building is considered as representative
device for inner and outer. It produces the image of a
historical district in city [4]. As Abu- Ghazzeh [7] has
portrayed façade, influence the quality of city image.
Since this research is kind of public evaluation for city
image particularly façade building in historical district,
therefore, façade components are determined from the
literature such as form, shape, color, material, and structure as
well. Understanding of public evaluations and preferences for
the quality and condition of the aforementioned details will
lead to understand the best pattern of façade in public
evaluation. Know what and how much importance are their
roles to provide clear and attractive facades in historical
district areas.
III. EVALUATION OF BUILDING FACADE
The previous studies have explained that the quality of the
built-environment is evaluated according to its physical
features [8], however, the mental presentation public toward
buildings is mostly achieved by façade evaluating [9]. In other
words, buildings’ appearances do play main role in evaluation
of built-environment. Nevertheless, some other researchers
have described that the emotional positions of the observers in
order to evaluate architectural quality of built-environment are
also important apart of from physical features solely [10].
Regarding to the exterior features, some factors and
elements such as cleanliness and ornamentation [11], curved
lines and decorated figures [12], and details and context [11]
may influence quality evaluation. Moreover, several studies
also indicated other effective elements regarding to the
evaluation of façade building.

For example architectural style [13], age of the building,
size of shape, value of the building [13] forms, lights [15],
color and used materials [13] can affect building façade
evaluation. According to the previous investigations [14],
some criteria such as color and material for beauty of façade
of a historical building was determined. It is also necessary to
mention that a historical building dominates beauty and
artistic quality if it exposures an expression of idea [16].
However, the other researches [8] were highlighted clarity,
complexity, friendliness, originality, ruggedness, and
meaningfulness as cognitive factors that can predict quality of
building facades. Some other researches explained evaluation
as an image of observer’s reason and emotional answers which
are been resulted by cognitive and effective evaluation,
respectively [17]. Cognitive evaluation is a complicated brain
evaluation supported by knowledge and belief, while affective
is more related to the feelings and emotions toward certain
object [18]. With consideration of cognitive structure, building
facades can be considered moderately complex. Elvin and
Nasar [19] explained building façade orderly and coherent.
However, it was argued that visual quality evaluation is in
relation with the degree to the consistency between buildings’
facades and their contexts [4]. As mentioned earlier the
answers of the observers and respondents to architectural
evaluation are related to their evaluation of building facades.
Mehrabian and Russell [10] claimed that evaluation is
extraction of pleasure and arousal inspiration by building
facades. Pleasure can be ranged from ugly (displeasing) to
beautiful (pleasing), meanwhile arousal is considered from
arousing (intense) to un-arousing (numbing) as mentioned by
Alkalin et al [11]. In addition, other researchers [20] declared
that the evaluation of building facade could be achieved by
measuring of preferences (like-dislike), arousal (arousingsleepy),
naturalness (natural-artificial), and relaxation
(relaxing- distressing). From the literature, it can be concluded
that there are two basic components for affective (emotional)
appraisal, evaluation component of building façade and
arousal components. Evaluation contains pleasant- unpleasant
and arousal consists of active-inactive. There are other
common factors in both evaluative and arousal components.
These factors can be grouped as relaxing-distressing,
interesting-uninteresting, and fearful-safe [21]. According to
Berlyne’s [22] findings, arousing quality has a direct linear
relation with complexity.
IV. PUBLIC PREFERENCE FOR BUILDING FAÇADE
Following the previous researchers such as Kaplan,
Suhardi, M, Lekagul [23], who conducted research on
preference which based on the psychological approach, had
been selected as the basis of this study. Some previous studies
on environmental preferences have proven that preferences are
practical, valid, reliable and systematic approach used to
measure people’s preferences so as to gather data, with the
aim to categorize the degree of human influences, as well as
the elements and features in buildings’ facades as preferred or
disliked by people [24]. The preference approach has been
extensively used to evaluate the perception of a particular
setting because it is a simple judgment made by people on a
daily basis [25][26]. According to Kaplan, preference is a
product of perception [25].
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 67 2012
702
Kaplan [27] revealed two basic approaches from perception,
“First, it is assumed that perception is oriented to getting along
in the world, to making sense out of the environment”; second,
perception is a highly inferential process whereby it requires a
vast of knowledge, experience and interpretation. More
accurately, perception is one of the physical-psychological
process through which human acquire information of the
environment [28]. Perception involves a highly cognitive
process which is rather difficult for the general public to make.
Thus, the selection of preference was the most appropriate in
this study. Commonly, through previous studies on the
preferences on buildings and facades, it is a simple perceptual
response which involves a judgment made by the people
regarding something which they prefer more than others.
However, in order to obtain the people’s preferences towards a
particular town environment, various information (presents in
the environment and the information which is stored in human
brain until it emerges as a measurable and observable
response) is therefore required [24].
V.METHODOLOGY
Quantitative method was selected as research methodology
and data was collected through a questionnaire survey.
Oppenheim [29] explains that the questionnaire is a Fast and
simple track to collect the truth for us, while the complexity
Len has hidden inside. Askari [4] delineated that
Finkmentioned questionnaire is self - questionnaire includes
questions which answered by respondents. Also Askari [4]
stated that the questionnaire - based survey for similar studies
have proven suitability by e.g.Hanyu;Imamuglu,;Galidano and
Hidaglo ;Akalin et al [4]. The questionnaire was designed as
primary data while designed question base on literature review
as secondary data. Wording, efficiency and time were checked
by pilot study and some questions and word which were
recognized difficult changed by easy words and questions.
During the questions asked participants to answer them
evaluate about architectural and urban elements which
influence historical area of Lahijan city. Likert scale was used
to rank their answer in five scaled questions.
VI. PARTICIPANT
The study were established base on Lahijan old area
population, whom were calculated 4025 people in year 2010
as Lahijan consulting engineer predicted in Lahijan Historical
area study. in other hand , base on Lahijan age pyramid
[30]which, presented in that report, 48% of people are
between age 20-60 years, which means 1932 people. Base on
10% of it about 200 people were selected as survey
participants. Questionnaire presented that 57.7% were male
and 42.3 % female. In addition, the participant's education
level falls under three categories, which most are university
graduated. 48.2% (n=96) of participants are graduated in
university which is the most part of participants. It followed
by 30.7% (n=61) of participants in high school graduated and
in finally 21.1% (n=42) of participants are in guidance school
and below. In the discourse of participant's occupations, most
of the participants worked in the governmental sector in 27.9
%( n=42) which followed by self-employee peoples in 26.9
%( n = 54).

The students in 19.4 %( n=39) are third group of
participants. Householders are almost equaled to students in
18.9% (n=38) and the last group are workless people in 6 %
(n=12).
VII. STUDY AREA
Historical area are lied on most Iran cities as well as other
cities in other countries, building's facades at Karimi street in
Lahijan city, located at historical area, was studied as place,
where have various architectural samples as modern and
traditional style (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).
Fig. 1 Study area and location in North of Iran
(source: Bo'ed Technique consultant engineering, Lahijan Comprehensive
master plan, 2004)
Fig. 2 Karimi street Located in Lahijan historical area
(source: Bo'ed Technique consultant engineering , Lahijan
Comprehensive master plan, 2004)
VIII.DATA ANALYSIS
The questionnaire classified in 4 parts, which in 3part of it's,
were asked participants questions while their answer followed
by Likert's scale. In this method a qualitative answer has
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 67 2012
703
coded to as comparable quantitative variables. One of
organization communication content in a manner is coding
process, which allows for easy indexing, retrieval and
identification of content relevant to research questions. [31].
Therefore, the analysis of data carried out by the means of
contents analysis and Kendall's tau, a measure of correlation
analysis (to explore relationship between the evaluation of
historical facades and architectural and urban elements
through people evaluation to know which elements impressing
people evaluation). [32] Delineated Content analysis is a
technique, which allows a quantitative analysis of seemingly
qualitative data. Lekagul & Maulan [25] Mentioned content
analysis was used to identify the characteristic affecting the
public's evaluation of build environment. [4] in this research,
the content analysis was used to understand the historical
buildings facade characteristic. Thus, the image of building
facades ranked base on their mean. To classified strong and
weak images in viewpoint of city image by participants, first
five images with highest mean ranked as strong image as well
five images with lowest score as weak images.
TABLE I
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS FOR BUILDING ELEMENTS IN LAHIJAN
(1= STRONGLY DISAGREE,2=DISAGREE,3=IDON’T KNOW,4=AGREE,5=
STRONGLY AGREE)
Std.
Variables N Mean Devia
tion
Importance of architectural style, shape and
design
195 4.50 .71
Importance of Coordination between Old
design and modern design
198 4.02 .87
Decoration of building facade such as
curving, engraving sculpture
199 3.61 1.11
The bright color of building facade is more
suit than dark colors
197 3.54 1.04
Modern design is more favorable than
traditional design
197 3.44 1.06
Preference of mono color as main color of
building facade rather than multi color
198 3.44 .97
Preference of traditional materials (wood,
clay, sand... ) as the main material of
building facade
200 3.33 1.07
IX. RESULT
Mean score, which obtain by participants opinion about
building facade images, presented importance of architectural
visual elements .it indicate which facade obtained higher mean
score as strong image of historical city image and ranked to
facade with lower mean score as poor image of city image.
The ranking revealed which architectural and urban elements
is more important in city image by public evaluation.
According to the table, ‘shape and design of the building
(mean= 4.50, sd= 0.71)’ is received the highest preference
among the other factors, it followed by ‘coordination between
old design and modern design (mean= 4.02, sd= 0.87)’. The
participants responded that that they find modern designs are
more favorable than traditional design (mean=3.61, sd=1.11).
Meanwhile behalf the participants received that they
preferring of bright buildings than dark color buildings is the
next elements (mean=3.54, sd=1.04). Decoration of building
facade is the next preference (mean=3.44, SD=1.06) which

selected by participants .participants prefer ferred mono color
buildings more than multi color (mean=3. 3.44, SD=.97) in
lower score and the table present that the parti rticipants preferred
traditional materials rather than the moder derns (mean=3.33,
sd=1.07).
A. The historical facades with the highest t mmean
Base on the participant's opinion about the e hhistorical
facade,
the facade were arranged in a descending g manner as their
mean shows from higher to lower mean (Fig Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).
Facades with highest score were assum umed as strongly
representative of historical city image. Ther herefore, the study
tried to find how the facade affected the parti articipant's opinion.
To achieve this, the facade characteristics s aand
architectural
elements have been analyze and detailed.
B. Correlation between the building facade de with the highest
mean and the architectural elements
As indicated in Table I, the design and sh shape of building
facade are the most important factors rs as participants
mentioned. The second elements are coordina ination between old
buildings and modern buildings, which got t ssecond
mean. As
mentioned ready, the analysis of data carried d oout
by the means
of contents analysis and Kendall's tau, u, a measure of
correlation analysis (to explore relationsh ship between the
evaluation of historical facades and facade's 's architectural and
urban elements through people evaluation n to know which
elements impressing people evaluation). Re Refer to Table II.
Smith M, Hardy RB, delineated Content ent analysis is a
technique, which allows a quantitative analy alysis of seemingly
qualitative data. In next step, the corre rrelation between
architectural elements such as color, mate aterial, shape and
design, and architectural style with historical cal building facade
with highest mean has studied.
TABLE II
CORRELATION BETWEEN THE BUILDING FACADE WITHHTHE T HIGHEST MEAN
AND THE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS TS
Image 1 2 3 4 5
Design 0.012**
0.170*
0.008
0.012
Harmony
0.102
&
Modernity
0.098
Color 0.116
0.7
Brightness -0.111
0.08
Decoration 0.138*
0.02
**Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). d).
*Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed) ed)
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 67 2012
704
Fig. 3 Historical building facade ades with highest mean
TABLE III II
CORRELATION BETWEEN THE BUILDING FACA ADE WITH THE LOWEST MEAN AND
THE ARCHITECTURAL L ELEMENTS
E
Image 1 2 3
Coordination -0.168*
-0.140*
0.014
0.043
Brightness 0.142*
0.132*
0.029
0.054
**Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level lev (2-tailed).
*Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level lev (2-tailed)
Fig. 4 Historical building faca cades with lowest mean
The result showed that the correla elation between scenes were
almost positive with architectura ral elements except with
brightness for scene no 11. Accura urately, there is correlation
between the evaluation of scene no 6(r=0.12, p

Future more, the impression of architectural style is agree
with some previous result as Askari [4] mentioned it , Nasar,
stamps III, Karaman, Hui [13] and It showed that, the design,
and facade decoration [12] and details and context [11] may
influence quality evaluation. Architectural style [13], age of
the building and shape, color [13] are other factors, which
accepted as important factors in evaluation of facades by
research.
C.The historical facades with the lowest mean
Base on the participant's opinion about the historical facade,
the facade were arranged in a descending manner as their
mean shows from higher to lower mean. Facades with lowest
score were assumed as weakly representative of historical city
image. Therefore, the study tried to find how the facade
affected the participant's opinion. To achieve this, the facade
characteristics and architectural elements have been analyze
and detailed.
D.Correlation between the building facade with the lowest
mean and the architectural elements
In Table III it is presented there is correlation between the
facade with the lowest mean and the architectural elements.
The result showed that the correlations between scenes were
found negative with coordination between modern and
traditional design. Accurately, there is correlation between the
evaluation of scene no 5(r=- 0.168, p

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